PERRY COUNTY OHIO - One-Room School House: BOWSER, Abraham & Henry
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Arthur H. Laube
Zurlauben@mindspring.com
January 23, 1999
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Scene - Abraham Bowser's 109-acre sheep farm in Hopewell Township, Perry
County, Ohio, and his brother Henry's 217 acre spread.
Abraham Bowser (b May 29, 1812, Salem Township - near Marietta - d June
29, 1885 on his farm. Buried in the old Brethren part of the Mt. Perry
Methodist cemetery.)
Henry Bowser (b March 11, 1814 - d April 11, 1874, as Abraham)
Their most important source of cash were large flocks of sheep, some
called "fat," they had been fed on corn to fatten them for the market.
Many were yearlings (castrated males), and hundreds of ewes (mature
females). Of these hundreds of sheep, the weathers (castrated males),
four or five years old, were the most valuable. The weathers were
selected for their ability to produce very heavy coats of wool, called
fleece.
In the time of Abraham and Henry Bowser, people of the world were
clothed in products produced from animals and plants, that is, the
chemists had not yet dissolved wood chips (cellulose) in solvents and
spun the first mile-long rayon thread (commercially successful in the
1930's). Wool from camels, goats and sheep had long been a major
component of man's garments. Cotton, silk and linen were also important
in the United States, but wool of good quality was of great value.
The two Bowser brothers made modest fortunes from the wool of sheep and
the smell of sheep and a man's sweat was to be admired. Shearing time
was most exciting. Several hundred head of sheep waiting their turn
filled the air with sounds, odors and dust. The weathers were of
tremendous size, with a very heavy fleece, and it was the responsibility
of the best shearer, a man of considerable strength and skill to
remove this valuable wool without any damage to the fleece or the skin
of the precious weather. There was plenty of work for everyone, even the
younger children helped by jumping on the fleece, tamping it as it was
baled. (From an account of my wife's family, that, with her help, and
the help of her cousin and brother, I am writing. In her own time on
this same farm, BJ was one of the younger children.)
In 1860 the Perry County Board of Education reported that there were
eight one-room schools in Hopewell Township.
Jockey Hollow school on Abraham Bowser's farm was known to be numbered
as #1. It started with the lower grades and as children advanced into
the higher grades these were added. There were ultimately eight-grades.
Abt 1855 his son 12-year-old son John began in the first grade.
Henry's. 12-year-old Louisa, 10-year-old Susannah and 9-year-old Edward
were all there
Abraham's wife Catherine Fickle could read and write, Abraham in 1843
made an X. (Did he marry and English speaking, educated women?)
Henry also signed his name with an X. As did his wife Nancy Proud
Coleman Bowser. However she may have been English speaking.
They were all members of the German speaking Brethren congregation,
known as Jonathan Creek. Perhaps the wives helped, but for sure their
children learned English in Jockey Hollow.
I am fortunate. I know eight people, still alive, who went to Jockey
Hollow. And they have in common, a loving, kind nature. My wife is one
of them.
In the back of Webster's Elementary Spelling book, were a series of
pictures, illustrating morals, and a few difficult spelling exercises.
When a scholar managed to get to these last exercises, the pupil was
"Past the pictures." This meant the student was now smarter and more
learned than most people could ever expect to be. And if you think that
is an exaggeration - take a look at one of McGuffey's Eclectic Readers.
I am blessed with an 1857 edition of his Fifth Reader. I just read
Lesson VII - "Little Victories" It is a story about a little boy, Hugh,
who has lost a leg. His mother comforts him. At one point in the story
she talks to him about others with deafness and blindness and how they
all have a Heavenly Parent who helped them find the strength to get on
with their lives. And Hugh says, yes, "But were they patient?" A very
good question for fifth graders.
I have for many years been trying to improve that virtue and in the
beginning I found that I did not even know how to spell patience.
Teaching like that of McGuffey did not always sink in.
I suspect there was more than one way to learn English. Hal
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